Twenty-two-year-old American rider Mimi Gochman secured her first five-star victory by winning the $300,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Ocala on February 14, 2026. Riding her 11-year-old gelding Iron Maiden, she produced the only double-clear round, qualifying for the Finals in Fort Worth. The win marks a significant milestone in her career.
Mimi Gochman exceeded expectations at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala, the final leg of the 2025/26 North American League season. The 22-year-old from the USA topped the $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W class with Iron Maiden, crossing Bernardo Costa Cabral’s jump-off course in 41.79 seconds. This victory earned her a spot in her first senior championship at the Finals in Fort Worth from April 8-12, 2026.
Gochman and Iron Maiden, partnered for less than a year, delivered the only double-clear effort of the night. Eduardo Pereira de Menezes of Brazil placed second with H5 Ozzy vd Bisschop after one rail (4/42.65s), while defending champion Cian O’Connor of Ireland finished third with Kentucky TN (4/43.36s). Hilary Scott of Australia also competed in the jump-off with Oaks Milky Way but incurred faults.
The first-round course featured a tight time allowed and challenging combinations, with rails common throughout. Gochman was the only clear in the first half of the 38-rider field, starting the jump-off. “There were so many different questions where he could have doubted, and he didn’t doubt,” Gochman said of Iron Maiden. “I just let the horse jump. One of his biggest qualities is that he’s got a big heart and is so brave. I just needed to trust him and let him do his job.”
Earlier in the season, Gochman finished third in Toronto with Inclen BH. She entered Ocala seventh in the east coast standings but rose to third overall with 37 points, behind Conor Swail (51 points) and Kent Farrington (42 points). “I sat down in the beginning of last year in January and said that I really wanted to go to World Cup Finals this year,” she explained. “I have two fantastic horses that are ready to go, and I want to test myself in a championship format.”
This was Iron Maiden’s first outing as Gochman’s top horse at this level, showcasing his bravery and scope after months of consistency training.
